Card handling device



April 2Q, 1948. v A, M, MARTIN 2,439,943

CARD HANDLING DEVI CE Patented Apr. 20, 1948 Massi-2s AifseasM-I. Mmm, rummage, im ensues@ ,Assisi i 1943., Sesma elaims.. (01129-1427) in the heldi-fsdtht the Stride/er leeres are ojerf' lapped Iengitfxdinallfy i? theholder with margirr 1146x1293; if; is. sometimes-'desirable to` transfers series'` comprising @conside-'11me number of *ree-5 ordflcaxt'ds; (which term Isl.v hereafter* intended? te bananiers/tes@ tcl include. record leaves or rewrd" sheets) from. one. compartment orispzwe between adacentfpartitiom supprtstoanothersuch com partmentnnspaceg. andfta do: this whilemaiintan.. ing `the. regularll?, Overlsippedv on echelun arrange,- ment of the cards, and-the presenlnverrtion, in: 011ev aspet :ati-111s tot' dsclqsef improve@ meansi for Snel-1iprime-F Eurthernfgore in.; agditifmy-A te the transfer.. purp.tzseirei-"erred@v twitfrequently.. becomes; desirable; wam# ya immane/11.11. record @fassions orseries of. cardswiththeiz said l argiigs exposed. and-,elisfy Suh Dsrmanentfeords mer advantageously be mism; missie,

advantages.. 1111,11

Figure. 1 a; erosssetmqar view @geen onine.

on. the. line. z-z 611mg; rg parts bein *shawn elevation, butashowing: a series o-fffthefgrdsfrxfthef des, rieafris.- fer.

@nihilisme 191mg? 3 with :recwyc'rs associates. therewith;

. Flegrei, @is mieterth@ el'ementshown if-FgSf..3.alIl .favssa dhglether when not il;

., mlay' @emprise an 1.1111011, which are" muntedtrnsversemja pmrarit'yw of Retailer; 'iqngitudiinauy d `apart. rails.. |12., Aupair of side support. rsf (3f, stime-What. like. theeoyers. die.V boek, di? Sscured'slne' each' Ingtudhaled-ge offsite, ses@ ui ssbyiiiing sfmpsj-14ssefmrea, as at f5 for. thejpass gretalig'serews-lfwhield fhsapeifurs 1.51am into ai', b

uithalen.' 'fie whim Qfywoiidf; somewhat# t mylpendns ellsiieii Sesamo. 4.441.318 filed May 25, 1942, roW Patent NQif Zl, dated Degc. 1,2 .,n124,4,.A 'I fheheedsge theserws [Ehre spaced from. ills base 21net. man Secure .thereto nishing plantes I'l.j The, lengitudirial; edges of. the base are iriclnedys; atll sq that. the. side; supports I3' maybe iheliri with, reference togtlfieV base. asindcated; at therieht .handide of Fig. 11er mgyhb@ Yerti'glf ther-'etw as indieated: at. the. left hemd side; eff Eigr 1', these sidesiipportsbeing. free tel swingiromslclmta sidegon thebaise; limited"L by. movement of the hinge straps lit- 011; thescrews; I6.: The siete?` stigmertsf,A I23;.are; advantageously made of relative. lrnalvyv bre; bioarel4 or the like and! the lunghel straps 'M1 maybe; secured theretoisby rivets ISL` It Will-bunderstbmtha-t the hinge straps llt/ane .spacedn between 1:he11s1; i1'sV IZ to miss the latter;

Iitcrnrrediate-4 ofi the sifflev supports I3@ may beV a.. plurality ofipartitionx spperts 20; conveiientl-y ofi somewhat lighter; fbre board: than the sifcle4r supports; i231 Thev partitibnsupports y2li* stre desirably remvaijli vretfairiecl ts'seiagtieii `With the base HI Vas; deseribecii andelaimedi'n- Amy co-fp'endescribes an@ chimes in.

an over-hanging wall 21 on the base, and, at the opposite end, the trunnions 22 are extended within the vertical projection oi the support member to underlie another over-hanging wall 28. A retaining iiller block 29 is adapted to be wedged into the space between the ends of the feet 24 and an end wall 30 of the holder. It will be understood that when the filler block 29 is removed, the partition supports may be slid to the right in Fig. 2 to beremoved from the base if desired, but when retained on the base as shown, are free to pivot thereon on the axes of the trunnions which latter at the same time are free to roll on the floors 3Iand 32 respectively of the channel members 33 and 34 carried bythe base at each end transversely thereof and from which are formed the over-hangingwalls 21 and 23 respectively. The channel member 34 also'con-v veniently is bent to form the holder end wall 29 as shown.

It will be understood that the purposes ofthe` structure just described, is lto mount in uprightV position a plurality of. series o f record cards. say,

between each of the partition supports 20, and'ifdesired between each of the side supports V4i3 and the next adjacent partition support 2U. Coin'- partments or spaces Vtherebetvveen are .provided for both by the cylindrical'trunnions 2i and also by thickened cap strips 35 for each of lthe supports I3 and 35 `for eachof the partition supports 20. Only one such card series 31 is here shown.

for illustrative purpose, and which' in` thisjinstance comprises a plurality of individual cards 38. As is well known in the art, the lower edges of the cards 38 may be notched as vatr39 at regularly spaced intervals thereon so as to yengage the rails I'2 which may thus retain the' cards in a well known over-lapping or echelon arrangement, 'each card having an exposed socalled visible margin 4t when the holder is opened,'somewhat like a book, and as more particularly described in my said prior applications. y y Y The present improvements, by which a series of such cards, such as theseries'l, may be hanf dled for ltransfer or other purposes such as mak-v ing a permanent record of theseries by thevuse of photography, desirably comprises, in accordance, with the present invention, a pair of card handling elements 4 l Vand 42'shown in perspective, respectively, in Figs. 3 and 4, and being what I have here denominated a mounting panel and gripper bar respectively. l

Turning rst to the mounting panel 4|, this desirably includes a panel portion per se 43, which may be conveniently formed of heavy fibre board or the like similar to .the cardsupports, and adjacent the lower margin of which is, suitably secured, a rib 45 of the same material. spaced at intervals along the outer face-of the rib 45 are a plurality of, and, in this instance, four, leaf springs 46, secured asby rivets 41, which, after passing through the spring members, also pass through the Arib 45 to further Secure the attachment ofthe rib to the panel 43 as best shown in Fig. if The free ends of the -lea springs 46 project upwardly, iirst bent sinuously intoproximity with the panel as at 48, and then flared outwardly as at 49. Ovler the lower ends. of the springs on the outer face of the rib 45, is

shown secured, as by gluing, a coaming 53, this coaming being slotted at intervals as at 5I 1ongitudinally opposite the upperA end of each spring to permit the saidupper end of the spring to play therein. It will" be noted that the ooaming desirably provides a guard for the free'imd. @there wise sharp edges of the spring upper ends. The coaming also is recessed along its inner face as at 52 to let thereinto the heads of the rivets 41. At each end the panel 43 is here shown continued downwardly below the rib 45 to provide legs 53 for the mounting panel. The legs 53 serve both to elevate the main part of the panel and also to accommodate the bulge of the sheet series 31 where the overlaps are most numerous adjacent a middle line from front -to rear of the holder.

Turning next to the gripper bar 42, this is desirably bifuroated and in this instance comprises a pair of furcations 54 and 55 advantageously made of material vsimilar to that of the panel 43 and of approximately the same length as the panel. The iurcation 55 has fixed along its upper Ymargin a filler strip 55 while the narrower furcation 54 is loosely mounted on headed pins 51 which pass loosely through the furcation 54 through the ller strip 5B, and through the furvcation 55, upon the rear face of which they are riveted as at.58. The side of the ller strip -upon which the furcation 54 is mounted is desirable slanted as at 59, and the furcation- 54 ispressed against this slanting surface by c oilv springs 60 disposedjbetween this furoationV and theheads of the headed pins 51, thus' causing the furcationk 54 to flare outwardly and to form with the furcation-55 a normally somewhat inverted V-shape for the gripper bar which assures that the furcations are spaced apart at their llower margins until it is desired to press them together manually on said lower margins, against the resilience of the springs 69,' to grip the upper margins of the cards 38, say, -.of the card series 31. It will be seen-that the springs 60, of which there are a number (more than two) spaced along the gripper bar, are free to act independentlyr each ofthe other `and therefore adapt themselves to a card series being normally thicker adjacent its middle `than at its ends, 'the' furcations 54 and 55, being of a flexible material; also vcohtributing to this adaptation. y

This gripping function of the gripper baril may be made use of as shown in Fig. I by `-rst swinging apart the partition supports 20 on each side of the card series 31 which it is desired' to permit placing behind the card series 31 the` handle, for exam-ple. By swingingthepartition supports apart at this point in the holder 4the compartment or space therebetween is accessible y and the card series 31 is displayed the exposed margins 49 of the cards facing the operator and with the cards inclined away from the` operator so that the exposed margins 40 are readily visible and constitute what atthis time may be called a frontface of the card series. ,Before this has been' done, however, the card seriesv 31 has rst been swung in the opposite direction, that is to be inclined toward the operator by..

manipulating the partition suppnrts 20, so .asto

mounting panel 4l, withthe legs 53 resting on rails i2. When now the cards are inclined rearvwardly again, as already described, the ,coaming 50 of the mounting panel supports the card series; spaced away from the panel 43 per se and making` it easy for the gripper bar 42 to be then placed over the upper edges of the cards 38, as is shown.

When now the operator is ready to lift the card series, the operator may press together, with the llingers, the furcations 54 and 55 so that furcation 54 occupies the posi! tion shown in dotted 4lines in Fig. 1, and thus causing the gripper bar to grip-the entire series lof It has been found. that; the=;oards;. even ifoffl lightsheet material,I have suicient.-rigidity--wheni lifted in a. body as. -ju'st -describ'edf to-'overconieI the resilience on the springs '46 :andi-permitithe lower. edges of; the .cards-toi be.- forced don/neon; thepanel 4*-I untilthe oardloweredgesfrestfupon@ the ribl, `the'.upperedge of which.` 6|= thus forms; a supporting ledge fony the' cards;` the springer-46' preventing, aeeidentalY dislodgemenh therefi"omi` andA providingv card: engaging.S meanse-z carriedr by the panel and'cooperatingrwith-theledgea 6J.;y It.' will nowl be apparent. that;l the` positions o'flr thet parts arerasfshowndni-Figi 2, the cards having the same echelon arrangement which they had when resting on the-rails" I2;

Thenext step is to removethe mounting panel llfromthe holder'an'd removetle gripper bar.` 42 from the cards, leaving the cards mounted in echelon arrangement iijg'iori` the* holder' as shown in Fig. 5. At this time a photograph may readily betak'n' of the card series, the exposed orvsi'ble margins' of which may display.,T in addition;y to indexing data, various record,summarieserelate inggtomecord keeping purposes. It willfberunzderstood Vthat the cards have ablank lower mar? giriwilii'chonly is concealed the coamingis and which is of no interestliln. the photograph: It Willal'so be apparentv thattlie cards andflmount.; ingpanelsl'ioW-n associated in Figi. 5'maygloeritratti: dled'` freely without danger. of the cards:` being dropped' from the holder' or being displaced thereon.

Here again, since the springs are independeen-t'in their action, the .usualbulgewhichioceurs attlie center portion longitudinally of the-'card series because of the greater. number off card overlaps at this pointZ is accommodated; without detracting from the holding effect of the independent springs 45 at the ends of tine cards series.

It will also be apparent from Fig. 5 that the cards desirably project slightly above the upper edge of the mounting panel 4l so that the cards may be crifled by the operator for individual examination of the portions thereof which are normally concealed. Also by reason of this extension of the cards above the panel, when it is desired to return the card series to the le holder ID, replacement of the gripper bar 42 on to the upper edges of the cards is facilitated. Thereupon, the panel having now been restored to the position in the holder as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with cards thereon, the furcations 54 and 55 of the gripper bar are again pressed together and the cards lifted from the ledge 6I, against the frictional pressing action of the springs 4S. The cards may be then replaced upon the rails I2 in their original position whereupon the gripper bar is removed and likewise the panel 4l, leaving the card series 31 exactly as it was originally in the holder and with the same echelon arrangement of the individual cards in the series.

It will be readily apparent that the gripper bar 42 may be manipulated by the thumb and index fingers of each hand as indicated at A (Fig. 2) leaving the other fingers free to be pressed against the upper edge of the panel 43 when it is desired to withdraw the cards from the panel. Also it will be apparent that when the cards are relatively large, with only a few cards in a series, they may be manipulated to and from the mountinggpa-nel 4;! withoutrthefuseof thegripper ban-42f- Wl'iena; theev panel-f: andi gripperfbar' are notV in use,Y they; may; be-securedvtogether asV shown in- Fig. 6 by forcingfrthe'furcation','fdown onto the ledgeff-iofl-thez panel;wheref-itwill.v be held by the:actiornof:z thefsprings-AE; justas thecards arerheld, untilfiti is :desired :to separate-thepanel and grippenbarforiusefas described.

Soconstructed,A and arranged', itwill be seen that-either -fi-ifor 5t5iis zat-panelf insertable between series nibards',` that eitherll-ii or rarefindependentfl springs: spaced therefalongL for maintaining thercards-insabutmentznwith a ribf on .the panel (eitherfllf orf; vbeingisuchi a-l rib) andthateither Meer.: 5.4 iszfa'nf. auxiliary.' panel,, the; cards being received: betweenithefpain'0ftrzan'elsz43and 50for 55s and;- 541 or?vl betweenibothA 'pairl simultaneously, asithefcasezmayfb'e.

. I-tfwillvbefunderstoodithatr the'inventionis not limitedftosdetailsaofi construct-ionisliow-nf for illus;` trativefspurp'ose. gEurtherrnt'ire;V it ispnot intended tope-understood:thataallffeatures of the. invention mustibe used conjoint'lmz since Various 'l combina.-

ries Aoraleafs'pring-s.seeuredtoetheiouter face of the ripa-andi having-,ntliein free',4 ends projecting thereabove rinto :proximity .withztliepanel; the-springs being spacedialong'rtheipanel longitudinally and having-:their 'said free?l endsr turnedoutwardly, a coainingf secured*l toV the: outer' face-of said rib andfoven'tneilower ends of;` the springs, saidc'o'amingubeiiigislotted at:i-rrtervalslongitudinally opposite the upper end of each spring to permit the upper ends of the springs to play therein, said coaming providing a guard for tire free edges of said spring upper ends, and legs at each end of the panel provided by downwardly extending continuations thereof below said rib.

2. In a card handling device, the combination of a panel, a rib along the lower edge of the panel providing an upwardly facing ledge thereon, a series of leaf springs secured to the outer face of the rib and having their free ends projecting thereabove into proximity with the panel, the springs being spaced along tlhe panel longitudinally and having their said free ends turned inwardly and then outwardly, a coaming secured to the outer face, of said rib and over the lower ends of the springs, said coaming being slotted at intervals longitudinally opposite the upper end of each spring to permit the upper ends of the 'springs to play therein, said coaming providing a guard for the free edges of said spring upper ends, wherein the springs have rivets passing therethrough and through the rib and panel and the coaming is recessed on its inner face to let the rivets thereinto.

3. In a card handling device for series of record cards mounted in echelon arrangement, the improvement of a panel insertable between card series having a ledge along its lower margin for supporting the lower edges of the cards when a series of said cards is placed thereon, and card engaging means carried by the panel for maintaining the lcards releasably on said panel, wherein the card engaging means comprises a plurality of independent spring pressed members adaptedto press against the faces of the cards and to press the cards against said panel, said members being of cam formation and arranged to be resiliently retracted by movement of the cards between said members and said panel.

4. In a card handling device for record cards mounted in echelon arrangement and having partition sheets separating series of cards, the improvement of a panel insertable between card series having a ledge along its lower margin for supporting the lower edges of the cards when a series of said cards is placed thereon, and card engaging means carried by the panel for maintaining the cards releasably on said panel, wherein the card engaging means comprises a, plurality of independent spring pressed members adapted to press against the faces of the cards and to press the cards against said panel, and wherein there is a coaming extending along the outer edge of said ledge into which said spring pressed members are let and for protecting said members.

5. In a card handling device comprising a panel having a rib thereon for abutting the edges of the cards when a series of cards in eohelon arrangement is placed thereon distributed therealong, resilient card engaging means carried by the panel for maintaining the cards releasably on said .panel in abutment with said rib and including more than two independent spring means spaced longitudinally therealong whereby said independent spring means adapt themselves to variations in thickness of the series of cards at the ends of the panel and adjacent the middle thereof, and a coaming spaced from said first mentioned panel by said rib, the cards being received between said `coaining and panel.

6. In a card handling device, a panel insertable between card series having a ledge thereon adjacent its lower edge for abutting the edges of the cards when a series of cards is placed thereon distributedl therealong a series of `cards in echelon arrangement on said ledge, resilientcard engaging means carried by the panel for maintaining the cards releasably on said panel and inincluding more than two independent spring means spaced longitudinally therealong resiliently retractable by the lower edges of the cards moving into the position on the ledge and wherebysaid independent spring means adapt themselves to variations in thickness of a series of cards 'at the ends of the panel and adjacent the middle thereof, and spaced apart supporting means for the panel below the ledge, said panel being of less vertical height than the cards whereby the upper edges of the cards may be riilled.

M. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 377,031 Jensen Jan. 31, 1888 465,568 Straube Dec. 22, 1891 1,367,983 McCarty Feb. 8, 1921 1,469,798 Martin Oct. 9, 1923 1,608,211 Hermann Nov. 23, 1926 1,894,137 Unger Jan. 10, 1933 2,061,878 Niemann Nov. 24, 1936 2,198,183v Soderlund Apr. 23, 1940 2,297,442 Volk Sept. 29, 1942 2,330,953 Copeland Oct. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 605,574 Germany 1934 609,398 Germany 1935 613,912 Germany 1935 745,740 France 1933I 

